 St. Andrew Corsini
Name: St. Andrew Corsini
Date: 4 February
Saint Andrew was born in Florence in 1301 of the illustrious Corsini family. A short time beforethe birth of Saint Andrew, his mother experienced a strange dream, in which she had given birthto a wolf which became a lamb upon entering a Carmelite church. After a dissolute youthful lifeAndrew repented, when one day in 1318 his desolate mother told him of her dream. He rose andwent to the altar in the church where his parents had offered to God the child they hoped toobtain from His mercy; there he prayed to the Blessed Virgin with tears, then went to beg hisadmission to the Carmelite Order. He began a life of great mortification. Ordained a priest in 1328, he studied in Paris andAvignon, and on his return became the Apostle of Florence, and Prior of his convent there. In1360 he was consecrated Bishop of Fiesole, near Florence, and gained a great reputation as apeacemaker between rival political factions and for his love of the poor. He was also namedpapal nuncio to Bologna, where he pacified dissenting factions and won the hearts of the nobilitywith whom he was associating. He wrought many miracles of healing and conversion during hislifetime. At the age of 71, while he was celebrating the midnight Mass of Christmas, the Blessed Virginappeared to him and told him he would leave this world on the feast of the Epiphany, to meet thebeloved Master he had served so faithfully. In effect, he died on that day in 1373, in thethirteenth year of his episcopacy. Miracles were so multiplied thereafter that Pope Eugenius IVpermitted a public cult immediately. The city of Florence has always invoked him with confidenceand happy results. He was canonized in 1629. He is often represented holding his crosier, with a wolf and a lamb at his feet, or hovering over abattlefield on a cloud or a white steed — this in memory of his miraculous intervention in a battlethe Florentine people won by his assistance. |
